Campaign targeting drunk, drugged driving underway

The Drunk and Drugged Driving—3D—committee began with its pre-kick off campaign, conducting presentations at various schools to promote driving safety for the community.

The 3D campaign officially kicks off in December, which is usually designated as 3D Prevention Month.

3D vice chair Rose Ada-Hocog said yesterday that the school visits are intended at educate students on driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, as well as the effects it may have, not only on the intoxicated motorist, but on others motorists and pedestrians as well.

Ada-Hocog said the presentations also include a treat for the students as local artists Ian Romolor and Leif Pangelinan of Uniku band perform several numbers at the end of each presentation.

“We try to reach teenagers because of underage drinking, and during our earlier presentations, you’d be amazed at how many kids responded that they’ve tried alcoholic beverages,” she said. “This year is different because we’re doing it through music because a lot of kids relate to music,” she said. “So we go there and say what we need to say, send our message, then give them something in return for listening.”

Ada-Hocog said the committee is also targeting government agencies as part of its efforts in promoting safety issues.

“It’s not only the teenagers that we need to address, even adults,” she said. “Based on our statistics, many adults do drink and drive.”

Other activities part of the pre-kick off campaign is a Life Saver Bagging, Cops in the Shop, and a mini-fair.

Unlike last year, Ada-Hocog said volunteers in the Designated Drivers program would not only be tasked with transporting intoxicated persons home. They would also join forces with officers and bag groceries at various outlets to promoting drunk driving prevention.

“We’re going to bag groceries and stuff our educational materials in there, and we are also ordering give-away items that we’re going to place into the bags,” she said. “Hopefully, people would read the materials and understand what we’re trying to do and that we’re not juts out there to pull you into [Corrections facility], but we’re trying to save lives.”

The bagging event will take place Joeten Hafa Adia Center, Price Costco, and Dolphins Wholesale on Nov. 27, and Joeten Hafa Adai Center on Nov. 28.

In addition, Ada-Hocog said the Cops in the Shop program, would feature a police officer in uniform serving non-alcoholic beverages in bars at least once a week beginning the weekend after Thanksgiving Day.

“An officer in uniform goes into the bar from 7pm-8pm or during peak hours and serves non-alcoholic drinks. The presence of an officer in a bar is a good deterrence in itself. It would calm people down, fights will most likely not take place, and people would think twice about getting into a car after drinking,” she said.

Designated Drivers will also be tasked to distribute educational materials at the bars.

The Cops in the Shop program derives from an ongoing program implemented by the California Office of Traffic Safety.

Also, the mini-fair includes performances from students who would perform skits dealing with drunk driving on Dec. 3.